Eagles Notes: Chip’s Press Conference

Chip Kelly held a press conference prior to the Eagles practice today and topics ranged from injury and depth chart updates to DeMarco Murray’s eating habits. Here is a quick rundown of some of the more important issues he covered.

• Kelly said that Sam Bradford is still in the early stages of his rehab, but he has started to participate in throwing drills. Kelly also noted that the next step for Bradford is to begin seven on seven. “There’s three phases, there’s medical rehab, performance rehab and then there’s prepare to play,” Kelly said. “He’s probably right at the tail end of medical rehab and he will probably start throwing some seven on seven next week.”

• Earl Wolff and Marcus Smith II were the other two players that are working their way back from injuries. Wolff is still working through the rehab from last year’s season-ending knee surgery and Smith pulled something in his leg earlier in the offseason workouts. Kelly also said that Smith will be working exclusively as an OLB once he is healthy again. All other Eagles, including Kiko Alonso and DeMeco Ryans have been full participants.

• Kelly also gave an update on the current state of the safety position. He said that Walter Thurmond has been getting reps at safety, due to his experience playing the nickel. “He’s always around the ball,” said Kelly. “I think he has a lot experience playing the nickel, so he’s been an inside guy, he’s very intelligent, an intuitive football player, so he’s the first guy out of that cornerback group that’s got a shot [at the safety position].”

• As for the Evan Mathis situation, Kelly said he has not talked to Mathis and Allen Barbre has been working in his place at LG. There has been a rotating cast filling the RG spot.

We will have more updates on the Birds at the conclusion of today’s practice.